Liverpool host Manchester City in a rematch of the League Cup final. Liverpool lost that game on penalties and would certainly want to avenge themselves.
Even though Liverpool and Manchester City played a Capital One Cup final on Sunday, the destiny wanted them to met one more time in the space of only three days. Sunday’s meeting was probably the only chance Liverpool had of raising any kind of silverware this season (although they are still in Europa League). Currently sitting at 9th place, the Reds are going to have serious troubles achieving Europa League places for next season.
Burdened with injuries of their center backs, combined with moody form from Simon Mignolet and some highly limited players, even Jurgen Klopp couldn’t bring significant progress to the game. Liverpool is one of the two most successful football clubs in the Premier League and players like Can, Lucasa and Toure are just not good enough if they want to return where they have been most of their history. Surely, it will be a busy summer at Anfield, but before end of the season Klopp has to pull out the max out of the roster he currently has.
Unlike Klopp who just started his reign at Anfield, Manuel Pellegrini is counting his days at Etihad. Ever since Manchester City’s board announced that Pep Guardiola will take over as the new manager of Man City from summer, the Citizens are playing unrecognizable. With two home defeats against Leicester and Tottenham they significantly lowered Pellegrini’s chances to say his goodbye with Premier League trophy.
However, since this season has been anything but ordinal, Manchester City are still in the race for Premier League and Champions League. In Premier League they are nine points behind, but have one less game than Leicester. If Citizens win that game, there will be only six points between them and the Foxes with ten more rounds to play. Sunday’s victory in the Capital One Cup final might give Pellegrini’s men much needed morale-booster for the remainder of the season.
Head to Head
In the first game of the season, which was also one of the first Klopp’s games at the Liverpool bench, the Reds dismantled Manchester City with brilliant plays from Coutinho and Firmino who both recorded a goal and an assist.
Match Facts
- Manchester City have won none of their last 12 Premier League trips to Anfield (W0 D4 L8).
- Sergio Aguero has scored in all four of his Premier League appearances against Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium but in none of his three appearances at Anfield.
- Manchester City haven’t lost three Premier League games on the bounce since November 2008.
- Liverpool’s 4-1 victory at the Etihad in November was Man City’s biggest Premier League home defeat since Arsenal’s 5-1 success in February 2003.
- Philippe Coutinho has scored in five of his six appearances against Manchester City, including in the League Cup final at the weekend.
Team News
After injuries of Lovren, Sktel and Caulker, Sakho suffered a head injury and will not play against the Citizens. Good news for Klopp is that Lovren is ready to play.
Pellegrini still can’t count on Nasri, de Bruyne and Delph.
Predicted lineups
Liverpool: Mignolet; Clyne, Lovren, Toure, Moreno; Can, Henderson, Milner; Lallana, Firmino, Coutinho
Manchester City: Hart; Sagna, Kompany, Otamendi, Kolarov; Fernandino, Toure; Navas, Silva, Sterling; Aguero.
From : SS.com
